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16

February 8 • 2018

jn

continued from page 14

ciplined training gave her and her
serve a record nine times on the
teammates valuable self-confidence
team, twice as the team’s captain.
and a sense of self-worth. “Many
She competed in three world cham-
pionships and traveled to
ABOVE: Wendy became successful entrepre-
neurs, attorneys and doctors,”
more than 15 foreign coun-
Hilliard with
tries.
current students she says.
In 1993, Wendy was elected
The last few years Wendy
and coaches
the
first African American
competed, she also stud-
in the Detroit
and the first gymnast presi-
ied Russian and physical
program.
dent of the Women’s Sports
education at Wayne State
Foundation, the sports advo-
University. But once her
coach moved to Los Angeles, Wendy cacy group founded by tennis great
Billie Jean King. Its mission, close to
moved to New York City to study
Wendy’s heart, was to advance the
with a new coach and return to col-
lege. She graduated with honors
lives of girls and women through
from New York University in 1988.
sports and physical activity.
“The Women’s Foundation started
AFTER COMPETITION
me down the path to be an advocate
Once Wendy stopped compet-
of athletes and all women,” Wendy
ing, she turned her sights on new
says. Importantly, she also learned
endeavors. She went on to coach
how to raise money and get out her
at the United Nations School. One
message, which gave her the cour-
of her students, Aliane Baquerot,
age to start her own foundation.
made the 1996 Olympics. Wendy
Before Zina’s untimely death
also became a sportscaster for 10
in 2007, Wendy flew her from
years, including covering the 1992
California to attend the Women’s
Olympics in Barcelona. As a found-
Sports Foundation’s awards gala,
ing member of the gymnastic dance
where Wendy, then president, hon-
company Anti-Gravity, she also per-
ored her coach. Zina also visited
formed in the Broadway revival of
Wendy’s gymnastics program that
Candide.
opened in Harlem in 1996. Zina
By 2002, Wendy married; she has
regaled the students with stories
about a young Wendy and taught a
two sons, Kennedy, now 14 and
Bailey, now 12. Zina, who closely fol- master class.
But running her foundation is not
lowed Wendy’s career, became like a
easy. Over the past 21 years, more
second grandmother to them.
While an episode of her life was
than 17,000 children have taken
ending, Wendy began to think
her nonprofit classes. The
about recreating a team like
cost per child each year at
the one in Detroit with Zina.
Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics
“I became successful
Foundation (WHGF) is
because of a high-quality, low-
$500, and more than 40
cost program,” she says. Zina
percent of her students
are on scholarship. Once a
could choose any child willing
student starts competing,
to work hard because of the
the cost jumps to $1,500 a
city’s support. More, Wendy
Dan Doctoroff
year, which her foundation
recognized her fun and dis-